Welcome to Cyrodiil! In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you'll dive into a sprawling open-world RPG where you escape imprisonment and discover a prophecy tied to the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. You'll spend your time mastering skills, exploring dungeons, and navigating a world on the brink of invasion. Whether you're joining the Fighters Guild, delving into the Mages Guild, or even taking on the shadowy Dark Brotherhood, there's always a new adventure waiting.
This guide is here to help you conquer every challenge Oblivion throws your way. We'll cover everything from the initial escape and character building to completing epic questlines like the Dark Brotherhood and Knights of the Nine. Stuck on a specific quest, hunting for rare artifacts, or trying to optimize your character build? We've got you covered, ensuring you can forge your legend in the heart of the Empire.
```
Comprehensive guide to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, covering walkthroughs for the main quest, Thieves Guild, Fighters Guild, Dark Brotherhood, and more. Includes controls and character creation tips.
This guide is for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, written for the Xbox 360 version with the April 30, 2007 Patch (version 1.2.0416) and all downloadable content. It should also be compatible with PC and PlayStation 3 versions. PC users are advised to download the latest official patch and the unofficial Oblivion Patch and Unofficial Official Downloads Patch for a more stable experience. Due to the guide's length, use CTRL+F to navigate the Table of Contents.
- 1Controls
- 2Walkthrough
- Starting a Character
- Picking your Race and Sex
- Starting a Character
- 3Tutorial: Imperial Prison
- 4Tutorial: Imperial Substructure
- 5Tutorial: Natural Caverns
- 6Tutorial: Imperial Subterrane
- 7Tutorial: The Sanctum
- 8Tutorial: The Sewers
- Deliver the Amulet
- Find the Heir
- Breaking the Siege of Kvatch
- Weynon Priory
- The Path of Dawn
- Dagon Shrine
- Spies
- Blood of the Daedra
- Blood of the Divines
- Miscarcand
- Bruma Gate
- Allies for Bruma
- Defense of Bruma
- Great Gate
- Paradise
- Light the Dragonfires
- Imperial Dragon Armor
- Getting in to the Thieves Guild
- Armand Christophe’s Quests
- May the Best Thief Win
- Untaxing the Poor
- The Elven Maiden
- S'krivva's Quests
- Ahdarji's Heirloom
- Misdirection
- Lost Histories
- Taking Care of Lex
- The Gray Fox's Quests
- Turn a Blind Eye
- Arrow of Extrication
- Boots of Springheel Jak
- The Ultimate Heist
- Getting in to the Fighters Guild
- Azzan's Tier 1 Quests
- A Rat Problem
- The Unfortunate Shopkeeper
- Burz gro-Khash's Tier 1 Quests
- The Desolate Mine
- Unfinished Business
- Modryn Oreyn's Tier 1 Quests
- Drunk and Disorderly
- Azzan's Tier 2 Quests
- Den of Thieves
- Burz gro-Khash's Tier 2 Quests
- Amelion's Debt
- Modryn Oreyn's Tier 2 Quests
- The Master's Son
- More Unfinished Business
- Azani Blackheart
- Azzan's Tier 3 Quests
- The Wandering Scholar
- Burz gro-Khash's Tier 3 Quests
- The Fugitives
- Modryn Oreyn's Tier 3 Quests
- Trolls of Forsaken Mine
- Azzan's Tier 4 Quests
- The Stone of St. Alessia
- Burz gro-Khash's Tier 4 Quests
- The Noble's Daughter
- Mystery at Harlum's Watch
- Modryn Oreyn's Tier 4 Quests
- Information Gathering
- Infiltration
- The Hist
- Getting in to The Dark Brotherhood
- A Knife in the Dark
- Vicente Valtieri's Quests
- A Watery Grave
- Accidents Happen
- Scheduled Execution
- The Assassinated Man
- Teinaava's Quests
- The Renegade Shadowscale
- Ocheeva's Quests
1. Controls
Get a grip on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion! This guide breaks down all Xbox 360 and PC controls, from movement and combat to menu navigation. Master your adventure!
Alright, let's get you moving and fighting in Cyrodiil! Knowing the controls is super important, whether you're playing on an Xbox 360 or a PC. Don't worry, it's pretty straightforward once you see it laid out. You can even re-map most of these in the options menu if something doesn't feel right, but this is the default setup.
Xbox 360 Controls
Movement Controls
| Action | Input |
| Move | Left Analog Stick |
| Camera | Right Analog Stick |
| Attack | Right Trigger |
| Power Attack | Hold Right Trigger and move Left Analog Stick |
| Activate | A Button |
| Block | Left Trigger |
| Zoom with Bow | Left Trigger |
| Cast | Right Bumper |
| Ready Weapon | X Button |
| Sneak | Left Stick Press to Toggle |
| Jump | Y Button |
| Change View | Right Stick Press to Toggle |
| Journal | B Button |
| Wait | Back Button |
| Grab | Left Bumper |
| Hotkeys | Directional Pad |
Menu Controls
| Action | Input |
| Move cursor | Left Stick and Directional Pad |
| Change Menus | Left and Right Triggers |
| Move map cursor Arrow | Right Stick |
| Hotkey | Y Button |
| Equip/Unequip | A Button |
| Sort | A Button |
| Rotate/Zoom Character model | Right Stick |
PC Controls
Movement Controls
| Action | Input |
| Move | W, A, S, D |
| Run | Left Shift |
| Always Run | Caps Lock |
| Camera | Move Mouse |
| Attack | Left mouse Button |
| Power Attack | Hold Left Mouse Button and press Movement Key |
| Activate | Space Bar |
| Block | Right Mouse Button |
| Zoom with Bow | Right Mouse Button |
| Cast | C |
| Ready Weapon | F |
| Sneak | Left CTRL |
| Jump | E |
| Change View | R |
| Journal | Tab, F1, F2, F3, F4 |
| Wait | T |
| Grab | Z |
| Hotkeys | 1-8 |
Menu Controls
For PC menus, you'll mostly be using your mouse. Just move the cursor around and click on what you want. You can scroll through menus and use the mouse wheel to rotate or zoom in on your character model when you're looking at equipment.
2. Walkthrough
Learn how to pick the perfect race and sex for your character in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Explore starting stats and skill bonuses for each race.
Before beginning a game you should read your Oblivion game manual to understand key parts to playing Oblivion. Pay close attention to pages 16-27. Now you are ready to start the game. Start thinking about what kind of character you want to be as you play through Oblivion. The key to successfully playing Oblivion is choosing the right 7 major skills for your character and their race. The major skills will start off at 25 points instead of 5, like the rest of the skills. Also the only way to level up your character is with the major skills only and not the minor skills.
Once you start the game you will see a short cut scene and then be brought through a castle doorway to meet your character in the Character Creation Screen. You must now name the character, then pick which gender and race you would like to be by picking the Race option.
Depending on whether you choose Male or Female along with which race you choose, your character will have different default stats to go along with them but the Specials and Skill bonuses will remain the same. The following is a list of what each type gives you:
| Race | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | |
| Khajiit | 40 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 50 | |
| Nord | 50 | 50 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 50 | 50 | |
| Orc | 45 | 45 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 35 | 35 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | |
| Redguard | 50 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | |
| Wood Elf | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 50 | |
| Argonian | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 50 | |
| Breton | 40 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 50 | |
| Dark Elf | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 50 | |
| High Elf | 30 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 50 | |
| Specials | Skill Bonuses | |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial - Absorb Fatigue (magnitude 100, once a day) | Blade +5, Blunt +5 | |
| Charm (magnitude 30, once a day) | Hand-to-Hand +5, Mercantile +10, Speechcraft +10 | |
| Khajiit - Demoralize (magnitude 100, once a day) | Acrobatics +10, Athletics +5, Blade +5, Sneak +5, Security +5, Hand-to-Hand +10, Light Armor +5 | |
| Night-Eye (duration 30, once a day) | ||
| Nord - Frost Damage (touch, magnitude 50, once a day) | Armorer +5, Blade +5, Block +5, Blunt +10, Heavy Armor +10, Restoration +5 | |
| Shield (magnitude 30, duration 60, once a day) | ||
| Resist Frost (magnitude 50, once a day) | ||
| Orc - Berserk (Fortify Health 20, Fortify Fatigue 200, Fortify Strength 50, Drain Agility 100; duration 60, once a day) | Armorer +10, Block +10, Blunt +10, Hand-to-Hand +5, Heavy Armor +10 | |
| Resist Magicka (magnitude 25) | ||
| Redguard - Adrenaline Rush (Fortify Agility 50, Fortify Speed 50, Fortify Strength 50, Fortify Endurance 50, Fortify Health 25; duration 60) | Athletics +10, Blade +10, Blunt +10, Light Armor +5, Heavy Armor +5, Mercantile +5 | |
| Resist Poison (magnitude 75) | ||
| Resist Disease (magnitude 75) | ||
| Wood Elf - Command Creature (magnitude 20, duration 60, once a day) | Acrobatics +5, Alchemy +10, Alteration +5, Light Armor +5, Marksman +10, Sneak +10 | |
| Resist Disease (magnitude 75) | ||
| Argonian - Resist Disease (magnitude 75) | ||
Legs Greater Power Gatekeeper Effects
Learn about the Gatekeeper's Gift in Oblivion's Shivering Isles. Choose from six powerful abilities like Fortify Endurance, Agility, Magicka, Health, Strength, and Willpower, or elemental shields and spell reflection.
Similar guides you might like
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content